Urban Center — Design Elements
Example Scenario
In this Urban Center scenario, two surface parking lots in a downtown are redeveloped with contemporary mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented buildings that fit into the overall community.
New development in Urban Centers should fit into the existing character of these historic towns and should include the following design elements:
Building Character
- Multi-story buildings
- Building heights similar to nearby properties or building setbacks from street and neighboring properties after a few stories
- Building scale, window patterns, rhythm, and form that complement the historic pattern
- Buildings at the sidewalk in downtowns
- Windows at ground-level on shopping streets with views into retail and other publicly-accessible uses
- Front door on primary street
Site Amenities
- Public art
- Central greens and plazas in larger developments
- Dense street tree canopy
- Stormwater management through green infrastructure along streets and within properties
- Decorative lighting that minimizes light trespass
- Streetscaping in downtown areas
- Places to sit
- Public restrooms
Transportation
- Grid or modified grid street pattern
- Bus shelters and pull-off areas for drop-offs and pick-ups
- Alleys, when available
- Easy pedestrian access
- Sidewalks along streets
- Parking behind buildings or in garages
- Bicycle facilities, such as bike racks and lockers
- Loading and delivery facilities